Sales of materials for polymer powder bed fusion were at an all-time high in 2018. Figures are in millions of dollars.

Materials innovations for additive manufacturing and 3D printing is expanding at a robust pace and achieved record growth in 2018, especially in metals, according to the newest report from Wohlers Associates Inc.

Sales from metals used in additive manufacturing grew an estimated 41.9 percent in 2018, the Fort Collins, Colo., consulting firm says in the Wohlers Report 2019. That continued a five-year streak of more than 40 percent growth each year and is an indicator of increased use of additive manufacturing for direct production applications, Wohlers Associates said.

Sales of materials for polymer bed fusion were at an all-time high in 2018, according to the report.

The 369-page report highlights activities in many industries, including aerospace. It also includes an expanded section on additive manufacturing in medical.

The report discusses benefits and challenges of designing for additive manufacturing; a list of 107 early-stage investments valued at nearly $1.3 billion; production, pricing and the use of metal powders, reports from 32 countries and tables of systems, third-party materials, software tools and emerging developments.

Wohlers Report 2019 tracks growth and sales of 177 producers of additive manufacturing systems, defined as those priced at $5,000 or more — nearly one-third more than those reported in the report last year. Those more-expensive systems saw good growth, but desktop 3D printing systems, those selling for under $5,000, saw a significant decline in the rate of annual growth, the report said.

To buy the report, contact www.wohlersassociates.com.

Letter

to the

Editor

Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]